FBI: Man wanted to carry out Dylann Roof-style attack

by WCIV

CONWAY, S.C. (WCIV) A 29-year-old Conway man was taken into custody by the FBI Wednesday for what investigators describe as a plan to conduct an attack on non-whites without getting caught.

Documents provided by the FBI state Benjamin Thomas Samuel McDowell told an undercover agent, “I seen what Dylann Roof did, and in my heart, I reckon I got a little bit of hatred. I want to do s*** like that.”

Investigators say McDowell made multiple posts on Facebook about white supremacists not caring about "their white race." Agents say in one post McDowell wrote, "All they wanna do is stay loaded on drugs the Jews put here to destroy white man and they fest on drugs. They should be feasting on the enemy that stole their heritage and their bloodline..."

Profanity and racial slur-laced documents cite many conversations investigators say McDowell had with the undercover agent on how he thought an attack would go and what weapons he would use. At one point, investigators say McDowell requested a 40-caliber Glock from the agent be believed "handled problems for the Aryan Nations."

"If you ain't got the heart to fight for Yahweh like Dylann Roof did, you need to shut the f--- up..." another Facebook post cited in documents stated.

On more than one occasion, Dylann Roof said he hoped his actions would start a race war. Roof went into Emanuel AME Church in Charleston on June 17, 2015 and opened fire on parishioners during bible study, killing nine people. He was sentenced to death following a federal trial on Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Following the trial, victims' families offered more compassion than condemnation.

Officials say McDowell was taken into custody at the Hampton Inn located at Celebrity Circle in Myrtle Beach after purchasing a Glock and hollow-point ammunition from the undercover officer. They say he also had marijuana in his possession at the time of his arrest. As of 2 p.m. Thursday McDowell's charges were still not listed on the Horry County detention center's website.

Horry County police told the FBI that McDowell had established White Supremacy Extremist connections while serving prison sentences in South Carolina for various criminal offenses.